Dispenser



July 7 1942- w. J. -cuLLl'roN y 2,288,791

DISPENSER Filed July 29, 1940 m INVENTOR.'

[SY/MMM ATTORNEY.

Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a dispenser for continuouslymelting or dissolving a finly divided or powdered material by subjectinga limited area or portion of it to a flowing liquid and moreparticularly described as a soap feeder for dish washing machines.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of a visiblehopper for confining a material such as soap powder, for subjecting itto the melting action of a liquid by exposing a limited area or volumethereof for contact with the liquid.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a screenforming a bottom or support for a quantity of soap powder or the like,which is immersed to a predetermined level so that a portion thereof iscontinuously subjected to the melting action of the liquid, and iscarried away in the solution therewith.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a dispenser forsoap powder and the like, having a visible container with a removablebottom supporting screen which shields a central overflow for normallymaintaining a predetermining height of liquid in contact with thescreen, and with a bleed or discharge opening at the bottom of theoverflow within the container for draining liquid from contact with thehopper screen when the normal supply of melting liquid is cut oif.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of aremovable hopper screen for a container which fits closely therein,having an upwardly extending hollow stem for supplying liquid to theunderside of the screen and affording a handle by means of which thescreen may be removed.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and willhe apparent from the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a viewillustrating this invention as a soap dispenser applied to a dishwashing machine; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the dispenser in detail.

In dish washing machines, it is customary to wash or rinse the disheswith a cleansing liquid having a suitable content of soap or othercleansing liquid in solution. For continuous operation, or for a longcontinued run, more liquid and consequently more soap must be used.Heretofore, it has been the practice to supply soap or other cleansingmaterial in liquid form or in batches when in powder form. The presentinvention relates more particularly to the method and apparatus forcontinuously supplying the soapy or cleansing content from a powdered ornely divided material by subjecting the lower portion of such materialin a screen hopper to a liquid which melts and carries oif the materialat a predetermined rate from the bottoni of the hopper or container.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a feeder 0r dispenser ofthis kind may be mounted at the top of a dish washing or other apparatus4, in which water or other liquid is circulated for cleansing or otherpurposes as by means of a pump 5 having a pipe 6 connecting it with adrip pan 1, anda discharge pipe 8 extending to the top of the casing ofthe apparatus 4.

The dispenser comprises a container l, open at the top and preferablycomposed of glass or other transparent material with a fixed mounting ontop of the casing or cabinet to which it is applied and in that openingat one side connected with the liquid supply pipe 8. The container ispreferably made of heat treated glass so that it is tough and strong andwill withstand rough usage without breaking, but still is transparent sothat the contents may be easily observed therethrough. To support thecontainer, an overflow pipe is inserted through a central hole I2 at thebottom having gaskets I3 of rubber or the like at the inside andoutside, and metal washers |4 pressed in by engagement therewith by anouter nut l5 and an inner xed collar I6, which positions the top of thepipe at the right height for an overflow. The lower end of the overflowpipe is connected through an upper wall of the apparatus by a fasteningnut I8, having a spray or distributing pipe |9 connected to the bottomtherewith.

At one side of the contained just above the top of the overflow pipe isan opening 20 through which an inlet stem 3l at the end of pipe 2| isinserted, connected through a valve or faucet 22 with the pump dischargepipe 8. A uid type connection is made about the pipe 2| by means ofrubber gaskets 23, washers 24 and fastening nuts 25, threaded on theinserted end of the pipe.

Within the container is a screen hopper or support 26, having an upperrim 2l to t closely but removably within the container above the heightof the inlet pipe 2|, and having a side wall 28 curving inwardly anddownwardly therefrom, free from the wall of the container and the end ofpipe 2|, a bottom ring 29 and a central bottom dome 30. Extendingdownwardly from the ring 29 are supporting legs 3|, which raise the ringportion above the bottom of the container and support the upper portionof the dome above the upper end of the overflow pipe Il, substantiallycovering it. Secured to the upper portion of the dome 3i] and extendingupwardly in the container is a hollow stem 32 which communicates withthe underside of the dome, directly over the top of the overflow pipefor preventing a vacuum below the screen. This stem also provides anengageable handle for raising the screen outwardly from the container.At the top oi the container is a removable lid 33 which fits looselythereon, allowing air to pass to the interior of the container at alltimes and having a central handle or knob 34 for moving it.

At the lower end of the overflow pipe Il but within the container, is ableed opening 35 1ocated close to the bottom of the container below thebottom of the screen 28, to drain any liquid remaining in the containerthrough the discharge pipe IS when the water supply to the container iscut off, and thus to prevent wastage of material within the screen.

In operation, a quantity of powdered soap 36 or other finely dividedmaterial is placed Within the container upon the screen to any desiredheight therein, the container forming a feeding hopper which may bereplenished whenever necessary, the quantity therein being observedthrough the wall of the container which is made of glass, withoutremoving the top or cover there from. In practice, the amount of liquidwhich enters the container is controlled and set by means of a valve offaucet 22, depending upon the material within the hopper, the servicefor which it is intended, and the quantity of material desired.

The water or other liquid is intended to rise to the height of theoverflow from which it will be evident that the circular ring at thebottom of the screen by which the overiiow pipe is enclosed, is immersedto the top of the overflow pipe and therefore this portion of material36 is subjected to a melting or dissolving action, the screen preventingthe passage of any large particles of the material which would tend toclog the overflow. The amount of liquid admitted, determines the rate ofdischarge which may be regulated as desired.

When the supply of liquid is cut off, the liquid at the bottom of thecontainer will gradually flow out through the bleed opening 35 untilnone of the material 3S is subjected to a free dissolving action, andthere is no waste of material.

Although this dispenser is thus designed and adapted for continuouslydissolving powdered soap, it may also be used in a similar manner forcontinuously dissolving other powdered or nely divided materials forother purposes. Sugar, salt and other materials may be similarly treatedfor continuously dissolving them in the same way. As the material withinthe screen is dissolved at the bottom and passes in solution through thescreen, the material above takes the place thereof in the screen, andthe action is continuous as long as liquid is admitted through the inletin suicient volume to immerse the bottom portion of the screen.

In order to prevent incoming liquid from contacting directly with thesoluble material Within the screen at the end of the inlet stem 3l, theinner end 38 of the stem is closed and a lateral discharge opening 39 isprovided near the end which discharges the liquid downwardly into thebottom of the container I0 away from the screen 26.

To remove the screen for repair, replacement or cleaning, it is simplygrasped by the stem 3| and raised out of the receptacle. If the materialtends to pack in the container about the upper edge thereof, therebytending to shut ofi the air supply, the upper end of the stem 3i is leftuncovered, and the lid 33 may even be removed for allowing air to passfreely through the stem to the under side ofthe dome Sil.

I claim:

1. In a solution dispenser, a container having an inlet and a centralpipe extending upwardly in the bottom :forming an outlet, a hopperscreen having an upper rim'tting within the container, the bottom of thescreen extending downwardly and inwardly free from the container Walland having a bottom recess extending upwardly over the top of the pipe,and means forming an air inlet through the screen to the top of therecess.

2. In a dispenser, a transparent container, a screen tting therein andforming a hopper bottom, a uid inlet and an overflow outlet at thecenter, the screen having a central domed recess overlying the upper end0I" the outlet, and a hollow stem secured to the center of the screenand extending upwardly to provide an air inlet di) to the underside ofthe screen.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, in which the hollow stem projectsupwardly in the container above any soluble material in the hopper toprovide a hand hold for moving the screen, and a loose cover for the topof the container, the amount of material in the hopper being visiblethrough the side of the container with the cover in place thereon.

4. In a dispenser, a container, a screen fitting therein having a hopperbottom with the central domed recess, a iluid inlet, an overow pipeextending upwardly in the recess, a hollow stem secured to the domedportion of the screen and extending upwardly therethrough to provide anair inlet to the said recess, and a bleed opening at the bottom of `theoverflow pipe in the container.

'WILLIAM J. CULLIT'ON.

